Choose your most attractive photos
The instinct many young photographers have is to share a wide variety of work that shows just how versatile they are. There is nothing wrong with this instinct, but it is not efficient in a practical sense. The reality is that potential employers or clients are not going to look carefully at dozens of photos. By putting everything out there, you only dilute the impact of your best work.
If you have chosen a niche to work in, or have started a business in a niche, choose your best photos that represent your skills within that niche. In this case, you can choose a variety that shows your versatility, as the scale is far more limited.
If you have not chosen a niche, you can choose one or two photos from your archive that show you can work in various niches. Keep them to a minimum so as not to overwhelm your audience.
Incidentally, it may be in your best interest to choose a niche. While it narrows down your potential client base, it also means you’re more likely to be chosen for specialist jobs.
Quality trumps price tag
Another instinct that young photographers have is to use any photos that they have been paid to produce. This shows that they have work experience and the ability to deliver on expectations. If you are particularly proud of the photos you have produced for your clients, this is the way to go.
However, if you know that the job did not require the best of you or that the subject matter is just not very interesting, you should go with the photos you consider to be of the highest quality. You may not have been paid for these shots, but clients want to know that you have skills and taste. The fact that someone else paid you for a job is not so important to them.
This applies even when potential employers ask for a certain amount of work experience. While not all employers are made equal, most of them are willing to overlook a lack of work experience if they think you’re the right person for the job.
